[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-0 [1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 11-8 (49m)
I know someone who is very happy: Mr Bassim Haidar, Optasia CEO, who started to sponsor Hania on this event. What a performance, and to be honest, I’m still stunned from it.
Not that I didn’t believe Hania could win, but in three? Not a single tie-break? No lost game balls, three game balls, three games. When was the last time that happened to Nouran???
It’s not like if Nouran did do something wrong. She made 2 errors in the whole match. She was just passive. Like unable to impose her dynamite squash as we see her do in 99% of her matches.
Today was the 1%.
Hania started superbly in the first game, in front, attacking and dispatching the shots. 4/2, 7/4, 9/5. Looks like the Gazelle (I will never call Hania with the name of a disease!!!) is in control. But come on, this is Nouran we are facing. The Terminator claws back with her power found again, 8/9.
A stroke and a winner at the end of a huge rally and it’s 11/8 in 15m.
It looks very good on paper to take the opener, but I remember Nouran overturning the tables and truly outplaying Hania in Gouna. And out of the blue, Hania found the tin, again and again. From an impressive 3/0, Hania made three unforced errors and conceided 2 strokes.5/3.
A very tense mid game, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8, 9/9 (Hania making two more errors on the way, but collecting a stroke). A superb backhand drive that dies at the back and a ball out of court, and it’s 11/9 to Hania, 17 long minutes of incredible hard work.
Interesting to note that Nouran only score one winner on that game.
Weirdly enough, Hania will make 5 more, in the middle of the game, 4/4, 5/5, 7/5 Nouran, 7/7, 8/7 Nouran.
But everything seems to work beautifully for Hania, and she scores the next 4 points, 11/8 in 14m.
How did she do it? The only answer I have is the quality of the backhand drives from Hania. When she gets that right, she seems to be able to control and contain Nouran better. But what do I know.
Hania : “I’m definitely happier to win 3-0 against Nouran than to reach the final.
“It’s so tough to beat Nouran in three. I don’t think many have done it before, maybe Nour and Raneen are the only ones. So it’s so big for me and it’s all credit to her, she asserted this toughness so I’m so happy and it’s very special.
“I think I just feel good. I had a long break in the summer and I only started back on court when I felt good and I was just so hungry. I ended last season in good form so I felt good and wanted to carry that on.
“I had things I wanted to work one and improve and I’m happy that I could do that and produce that level today.”
